A local LGBTQ+ community and allies gathered in Forest Green with rainbow flags and their voices on Saturday, November 30 after homophobic vandals targeted Pride flags in the London borough at least five times in the last year.
To deter vandals, Newham Council has removed the rainbow and trans flags from the pavements around the area’s Elizabeth Line Station, and replaced them with Pride wraps, high up on lampposts.
On November 30, local LGBTQ+ and allies held a ceremony of songs, including I Am What I Am and All You Need Is Love, and speeches, and a short walk, taking in the lampposts with their colourful new designs.
Labour mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz said: “Please never ever think I will turn a blind eye to the hate that we have seen in this part of our inclusive borough.
“I will go to the ends of the earth to make Newham a showcase around the world for inclusivity, for equality, for equity, for justice, for fairness. And that means challenging prejudice.”
Speaking at the community event, Uma Kumaran, Labour MP for Stratford and Bow, said: “Everyone here is absolutely standing shoulder to shoulder and we will not let this come between us. You know, I’ve taken your message loud and proud to the Mayor of London, who himself is a great ally.
“We hope that we will have for the next Forest Gate Pride, an even bigger protest through here, an even bigger celebration, an even bigger standing together of who we are as a community.”
